Category Archives: Architecture

The Titus County Courthouse was built in 1895, but currently looks nothing like its original brick exterior with a large bell tower on top. The building underwent a couple of modernistic renovations, one of which earned it the title of “Ugliest Courthouse in Texas,” although there are other contenders. In the 1990s, the building was restored to its 1940s Art Deco – Moderne appearance. Now I think it’s starkly beautiful.

The ugliest courthouse in Texas? Yes, definitely we needed to put the Titus County Courthouse on our field trip list.

On a recent trip to Texas, family members and I were looking for interesting historical destinations in northeast Texas. Visiting courthouses usually takes you to scenic and historic areas in each county. There are 254 counties in Texas, so there are a lot of courthouses to visit. A quick search online in our desired area found several notable destinations. One place stood out: The Titus County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant was named as The Ugliest Courthouse in Texas. (There are several contenders to that title, according to several websites devoted to Texas.)

Actually, the Titus County Courthouse didn’t look that ugly in the photo — just dramatically changed from its original appearance when it sported a brown brick exterior and a large bell tower. Bell towers on top of courthouses fell out of favor when they began to fall during high winds during severe Texas weather, so they aren’t usually a feature on Texas courthouses in modern times. The Titus County Courthouse, built in 1895, is the fifth courthouse building in Titus County. The current courthouse underwent a couple of renovations, including one that did look hideous, but the building was restored in the 1990s to its 1940s appearance of Art Deco and Moderne, which I think is attractive. One quirk is that a loudspeaker blasts music, news and commercials from an area radio station in the area around the courthouse. One website noted this, and we discovered it was true. It was a Sunday and otherwise quiet in the courthouse neighborhood.

Buildings around the Titus County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, Texas, a Texas Main Street City. In the lower left photograph, carnival rides are loaded, after the Cinco de Mayo Festival on the Square.

The Titus County Courthouse was built in 1895, but currently looks nothing like its original brick exterior with a large bell tower on top. The building underwent several modernistic renovations, some of which earned it the title of “Ugliest Courthouse in Texas,” although there are other contenders. The building was restored to its 1940s Art Deco- Moderne appearance.

We also discovered one of the most beautiful courthouses in Texas, the Old Harrison County Courthouse, which I’ll write about in another post, and also include other Texas courthouses.

Old Harrison County Courthouse, Marshall, Texas Postcard.Photograph by Catherine Sherman.